The name Braids will be a familiar one to most McGillians. These four Montreal locals (originally from Calgary) were one-time students here before dropping out to pursue music full time. After the successful release of their debut album, Native Speaker, on Kanine Records on January 18, it looks like things have worked out nicely. Braids have garnered a favourable Pitchfork review and are now set to embark on a tour of the United States.

The band draws a lot of obvious comparisons to indie experimentalists Animal Collective, though their instrumentally driven sound owes more to post-rock, in particular fellow Montrealers Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The band relies on sparse arrangements that sit atop a texture of looped vocals, keys and effects. But what sets Braids apart from other groups of their ilk are their distinctive female vocals, particularly those of singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston.

Standell-Preston’s vocals lead every track with a mixture of self-assurance and fragility that are as relatable as they are mesmerizing. Native Speaker begins with fan favourite “Lemonade,” a medley of stuttering drums and dancing guitar that builds up to the repeated refrain: “All we want to do is love.” The tracks that follow play it safe—both “Plath Heart” and “Glass Deers” are great songs, but nothing out of the mould. The album’s sleeper hit is “Lammicken,” a dark mixture of distortion and reverb overlaid with some truly soul-shattering vocals.